THE CITY MARKETS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1413, 13 April 1912, Page 8

THE CITY MARKETS.

FRUIT AND VEGETABLE VALUES. Tlio week' ending to-day has been a quiet one at the Blair and Allen Street markets, taking everything into consideration. A shipment of about 1000 cases of Cook Island oranges arrived via Auckland, the fruit being landed here in excellent condition. For good-conditioned lots prices ranged from Bs. to 9s. Shipments from Sydney have almost ceased now. A few pineapples came forward this week, and cpalised up to 15s. Gd., this being for the Queen variety. Lemons are scarce, and tho' net shipment of Messena's is expected ..to realiso 15s. to Ids. per half-case. A few peaches are still coming forward from Motuelca, and the best varieties are selling at up. to4s. per half-case. The market is;well supplied With pears, the bulk quitting at from ■is. to ss. permease, although some specially-selected lines have realised from Ss. to Bs. The supply of apples during the past few days has been smaller than usual. There is an excellent demand for cooking sorts at 4s. Gd. to ss. Gd. per case. Choico Cox's Orange Pippins realise up to 95., and prime Gs. to Bs. Jonathans are worth Gs. to 7s. Quinces are selling at 3s. to,3s. Gd. per case. Tho values for local grapes vary according to samples. A special line grown at tho Hutt ..sulci yesterday morning, at lsi 3d. per lb., but the bulk of tho offerings quit at from Bd. to lOd. A shipment received from Nelson yesterday landed in bad order, and made 3d. to Gd. per lb. Tomatoes in Heavy Supply. Tomatoes are selling fairly well, and heavy supplies, contimio to coiuo forward

almost daily. The bulk of the fruit is selling at from 2s. to 2s. Gd. per case, but several well-known brands liuvo realised 3s. to -Is. during the past few days. Heavy supplies aro being forwarded to Auckland by a number of local growers. Cape gooseberries aro scarce, those available bringing sd. per lb. Cucumbers aro plentiful at. 3s. to Is. per half-case. Vegetables, especially cabbages, are still very plentiful. Extra ehoico well-hearted cabbages aro only bringing (id. per sack. Cauliflowers liave fallen iu value owing lo the heavy supplies coming forward, yesterday's prices being 3s. Cd. to ss. per sack. Parsnips aro worth 3s. Cd. to -Is. per sack; pumpkins, -Is. Gd. to 55.; carrots, 2s. to 3s.'; marrows, 2s. Gd. to 35.; beetroot, 35.; swedes, 2s. (id. to 35.; and turnips, Is. to Is. Gd. sack; and lettuce. Is. to 2s. Gd. per case. Potatoes are selling at 3s. 9d. to 4s. Gd. per cwt.; rhubarb, at 3s. to ss. per dozen bundles; celery, 2s. to 3s. per dozen; French beans, 2s. to is. per half-sack; green peas, ss. to Bs. per half-sack; and spinach, Is. Gd. to 2s. per case. Eggs are scarce at. Is. lOd. per dozen. Poultry prices are unaltered, hens selling at 2s. 3d. to 2s. Gd. pcir; cockerels, 2s. Gd. to 3s. pair; and ducks, 3s. Gd. to is. Gd. pair. The Position in Dunedin. Reports from Dunedin indicate a very low market for fruit. On Wednesday morning, according to the "Star," the price for apples was about tho lowest oil record—a little less than a half-penny per lb. These were small apples, but largo ones wero also very cheap. As a matter of fact, the market is glutted with cooking and dessert apples and peaches and pears from tho Tcviol, and the demand is exceptionally weak. For very ordinary apples ami pears the priccs vanged from Is. to 2s. per case, vrhilo better sorts went up to 3s. Peaches aro not popular at all. Open-air tomatoes only bring 1 Id. per lb. in tho wholesale market, while hothouse .grown sorts, if of good form and substance, fetch from -Id. to 3d. Prices wero much better at this limo last year. It. is thought that the cold weather and the passing of the holidays have curbed the people's desiro for. fruit. The same paper adds;—" The orehardists of Otago will not be chuckling over profits just now. Prices arc down to bedrock, and tho profit on a case of apples, say, from Tcviot, must be about tho size of the widow's mite. It is said that the cost of a case alone— material and making—is a shade under Od., and if a grower can obtain only from Is. to 2s. for a case of apples and pears in Dunedin, it is clear that he is not on the way to fortune."